Links and Resources

A page of links to helpful and relevant sites and sources of information

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Historic England is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. Its role is to champion and protect England’s historic environment. Historic England is also a statutory consultee for applications under the Ecclesiastical Exemption.

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment for Wales. Cadw’s aim is to conserve Wales’s heritage, to help people understand and care about their history and to help sustain the distinctive character of Wales

This is the protocol agreed between the United Reformed Church and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and explains the operation of the Exemption within the denomination. (Until recently this was on the Plato web-site, but has been taken down)

Germinate is the new name for the Churches Rural initiative at the Arthur Rank Centre. Many of the resources on their website are connected to the use of buildings in rural settings. http://germinate.net/germinate/

Historic England is responsible for making recommendations to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for the Listing of Buildings, together with recommendations in connection with Monuments, Parks and Gardens, Battlefield, Wrecks, etc. Information about the listing process can be found on the following website.

In some Local Authority areas the Planning Department have established a Local List of buildings, which are not subject to formal Listing by Historic England but are considered to be of local heritage importance. Local Listed buildings are not covered by the Ecclesiastical Exemption and applications for Listed Buildings Consent to alter these building should be made to the Local Authority Planning Department.

Historic England's guidelines on improving access to historic buildings for people with disabilities, explain how to make a range of positive changes to historic places, while at the same time working within the wider principles of conservation.

Aimed at those who own, manage or get involved in adapting historic places such as architects, the guidelines include a summary of the statutory framework, as well as examples of successful approaches, ranging from minor improvements to high-quality modern design solutions.

The Ancient Monuments Society was founded in 1924 ''for the study and conservation of ancient monuments, historic buildings and fine old craftsmanship'. We are committed not only to campaigning for historic and beautiful buildings, but to furthering the study of them.

The Twentieth Century Society was founded as the Thirties Society in 1979, and exists to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain from 1914 onwards. The Society’s prime objectives are conservation and education.

The Georgian Group is the national charity dedicated to preserving Georgian buildings and gardens. We were founded in 1937. We aim to protect historic buildings through providing advice to owners and architects, campaigning, and through our role as statutory consultees in the planning system. Our annual awards promote excellence in design and conservation. In its casework, the Georgian Group advises councils, church bodies, and others on threats to the historic fabric and setting of structures built between 1700 and 1840. The Group organises lectures and other events aimed at improving the understanding of aspects of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century built heritage. We also produce technical advice leaflets, and promote the publication of academic research through our journal.

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris in 1877 to counteract the highly destructive 'restoration' of medieval buildings being practised by many Victorian architects. Today it is the largest, oldest and most technically expert national pressure group fighting to save old buildings from decay, demolition and damage.

The Victorian Society is the charity championing Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales. Our Conservation Advisers help local planning authorities and churches to make better decisions about adapting Victorian and Edwardian buildings to the way we live now, while keeping what is special about them.

War Memorials Trust works for the protection and conservation of war memorials in the UK. We provide advice and information to anyone as well as running grant schemes for the repair and conservation of war memorials.

The Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme gives grants that cover the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship. The scheme covers repairs to the fabric of the building, along with associated professional fees, plus repairs to turret clocks, pews, bells and pipe organs.

From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks, buildings, places of worship we love, from precious memories to rare wildlife… The Heritage Lottery Fund use money raised by National Lottery players to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about.